Watch with shock-proof mounted works



May 30, 1961 K. voN ZEPPELIN ET AL 2,985,996

WATCH WITH SHOCK-PROOF MOUNTED WORKS Filed Feb. 2. 1956 1l IO we l5 lob l7 l ,T Il l l. I.'

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Z 12 ven La /-s /rukt v. Ze/v/vegnz /fu-no Tfn/fa United States Patent O WATCH WITH SHOCK-PROOF MOUNTED WORKS Kurt von Zeppelin, Paradiesherg 13, Schramberg, Germany, and Kuno Trick, Tosstr. 41, Schramberg, Germany Filed Feb. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 563,141

Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 3, 1955 4 Claims. (Cl. 58-88) The invention relates to a shock-proof mounted watch movement or works and is characterized in that the works and the case of the watch are mutually supported by means of swing pins under the action of return springs and at the same time allow a resilient relative movement between the works and the case on the line connecting the two swing points.

In the preferred form of yconstruction of the invention, at least three `spring-loaded swing pins are arranged on the periphery of the movement or works in a plane parallel to that of the dial, the outer heads of these swing pins engaging in sockets in the case which do not allow lateral displacement, whereas the inner ends of the pins are only tiltable in guide recesses or bores and longitudinally slidable against the action of return springs.

The invention is particularly suitable for wrist-watches, because it can be accommodated in a comparatively very small space, comprises few par-ts which can be massproduced and the works equipped with the shock-absorbing elements can be easily tted in the case.

As a consequence, the invention can be applied not only to wrist-watches but equally well to pocket-watches and other precision instruments which must be protected against shocks when being handled.

While in the case of the form of construction hereinafter described by way of example the resilient swing pins are mounted in spring sleeves which in turn are introduced into bores in the base plate of the works, the arrangement might under certain circumstances be reversed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one form of construction, the accompanying drawing and the claims.

The only figure of the accompanying drawing shows on an enlarged scale, a part section taken at right angles to the plane of the dial of a watch according to the invention.

The case is designated by 10, the watch glass by 11, the bottom of the case by 12, the works-shown as a onepiece block for reasons of simplicity-by 13 and the dial by 14. In a blind recess or bore 13a in the works block or frame 13 a sleeve 15 is inserted which is closed at one end and hereinafter referred to as the spring sleeve. This sleeve accommodates a spiral spring 16 and a swing pin 17. The swing pin 17 has on its outer end a convex head 17a, to receive which an annular groove 10b with straight iianks is provided in the recess a in the case for accommodating the works. The width of ythis groove is equal to the diameter of the convex head, so that the swing pin can, with the aid of its convex head, carry out tilting movements in all directions without lateral displacement in the groove lllb. The swing pin 17 has a shank 17b 'and a cambered yroll-shaped rear end 17e the diameter of which is equal to the internal diameter of the spring sleeve 15, so that the pin end 17c can carry out tilting movements in the sleeve without lateral displacement and shift longitudinally along the axis of the sleeve. On the rear end of the swing pin 17 a conical extension Patented May 30, 1961 ice or arbor 17d is provided on which the spiral spring 16 is slipped for guiding and holding the swing pin.

To prevent the swing pin from dropping out, the edge of the spring sleeve is slightly beaded inwards at 15a.

For assembling the watch, the convex heads 17a of two of the three swing pins with which the works are usually provided, are introduced into the groove 10b and the Works, now in inclined position, are then pressed completely into the recess 10a, until .the convex head of the third swing pin engages in the groove 10b. To facili-tate assembly and dismantling, the ank at the bottom of the groove 10b is bevelled (at 10c) along a suitable arc of its periphery at one or .three places, in such a manner that the bevels are remote from the points where the convex heads are situated when the works are positioned in relation to the winding knob, so that, when the swing pins have snapped into the grooves, the works must be turned through a corresponding angle.

The device operates in such a manner that in the case of shocks occurring parallel to the plane of the dial a relative movement takes place between the works `and the case in the direction of the longitudinal axis 18 of the spring sleeve and some of the springs, for example three in number, are compressed and when the shock ceases the works are returned into their initial position. In the case of shocks having a transverse component, that is yat a more or less wide angle to the plane of the dial, a relative movement perpendicular to the plane of the dial takes place in addition to the above-mentioned movement between the works and the case, causing the hinge pins 17 with their convex heads 17a in the groove 10b and their cambered roll-shaped rear ends 17e in the spring sleeves 15, to carry out tilting movements. By this tilting movement the spiral springs 16 are both compressed and bent relatively to their longitudinal axes and the return force thus produced causes the works to return into their initial position shown in the drawing.

It is of course obvious that the sleeve 15 may be omitted in which case the spring 16 will bear against the bottom wall 13b of the recess 13a.

We claim:

l. Watch with shock-proof mounted works frame comprising a watch case having an annular groove therein, said works frame having la plurality of recesses arranged radially therein, a swing pin for each recess mounted in the annular groove in the case and its recess in the work frame, a spring for each pin with the latter extending partially into the spring and the spring being in contact with an end wall of its recess, means on the pin in contact with a side wall of the recess and the annular groove which cooperates with the spring for resiliently supporting the works against shocks, and the bottom wall of the groove being bevelled for a distance adjacent the actual bearing points of the swing pin heads.

2. Watch with shockproof mounted works frame comprising a watch case having an annular groove therein, said works frame having a plurality of recesses arranged radially therein, a swing pin for each recess mounted in the annular groove in the case and its recess in the works frame, a spring for each pin with the latter extending partially into the spring, a cup-shaped sleeve in each recess to support the swing pin and the spring, said spring being in contact with the bottom of the sleeve, and means on the pin in contract with 'the side walls of the sleeve and the annular groove which cooperates with the spring for resiliently supporting the works against shocks, said means including a convex head on the outer end of the pin having a diameter approximately equal to the width of the groove and a height equal to the depth of the groove and a shank of smaller diameter than that of the head.

3. Watch with shockproof mounted works frame com- 3 prising a watch case having an annular groove therein, said works frame having a plurality of recesses arranged radially therein, a swing pin for each recess mounted in the annular groove in the case and its recess in the works frame, a spring for each pin with the latter extending partially into the spring, a cup-shaped sleeve in each recess to support the swing pin and the spring, said spring being in contact with the bottom of the sleeve, and means on the pin in contact with the side walls of the sleeve and the annular groove which cooperates with the spring for resiliently supporting the works against shocks, said means including `a convex head on the outer end of the pin having a diameter approximately equal to the width of the groove and a height equal to the depth of the groove, a shank of smaller diameter than that of the head, and a cambered roll-shaped enlargement having a diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve, said spring being located between the cambered rollshaped enlargement and the bottom of the sleeve.

4. Watch with shookproof mounted works in which the 2() around a part of the pin and in contact with the bottom of the cup-shaped sleeve, the pin being provided with a convex head on its outer end having a diameter approximately equal to the width of the groove and a height equal to the depth of the groove and a shrank of smaller diameter than that of the head which projects into the annular groove, the pin being further provided with a cambered roll-shaped enlargement in the sleeve of a diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve and a conical extension, and the spring being located between the cambered roll-shaped enlargement and the bottom of the sleeve and for at least a part of its length `surrounding the conical extension.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,687 Schwarz Oct. 20, 1931 2,398,423 Gruber Apr. 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 232,213 Germany Mar. 6, 1910 845,476 Germany July 31, 1952 1,056,409 France Oct. 21, 1953 

